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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / The Effect of Magnetotherapy on Back Pain Sensitivity and Mu...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2025; 16(1); 77; doi: 10.3390/ani16010077

The Effect of Magnetotherapy on Back Pain Sensitivity and Muscle Tension in Recreational Horses-A Pilot Study.

Abstract: Back pain in horses is a frequent musculoskeletal issue that affects performance and welfare. Magnetotherapy has been proposed as a complementary, non-invasive treatment to reduce pain and support soft tissue recovery, but studies in horses remain limited. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the effects of low-frequency pulsed magnetic field therapy on horses with hypersensitivity to palpation along the longissimus dorsi muscle. Four recreational horses participated in a 10-session magnetotherapy program, with changes assessed using palpation, neck flexibility tests, heart rate measurements and thermal imaging. Results showed a reduction in pain sensitivity and muscle tension, particularly in the withers, thoracic, lumbar and sacral regions. Heart rate decreased after treatment, which may indicate a relaxing effect. Thermal imaging confirmed that magnetotherapy did not increase surface temperature, confirming its non-thermal nature. No adverse effects or swelling were observed in any of the horses. These findings provide preliminary data from this pilot study, suggesting that magnetotherapy may be a beneficial adjunct in the treatment of back pain in horses, promoting relaxation and pain relief without inducing tissue heating. Further research on larger populations with a negative control group is needed to validate these findings and support broader clinical application.
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Publication Date: 2025-12-26 PubMed ID: 41514765PubMed Central: PMC12784738DOI: 10.3390/ani16010077Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

Overview

  • This pilot study investigated the effects of low-frequency pulsed magnetotherapy on back pain sensitivity and muscle tension in recreational horses with hypersensitivity along their longissimus dorsi muscle.
  • The study found that magnetotherapy reduced pain sensitivity and muscle tension, promoted relaxation, and did not cause tissue heating or adverse effects, suggesting it may be a safe, complementary treatment for equine back pain.

Introduction and Background

  • Back pain is a common musculoskeletal problem in horses, affecting their performance and welfare.
  • Magnetotherapy involves applying magnetic fields as a non-invasive treatment proposed to reduce pain and aid soft tissue recovery.
  • Despite its potential, studies examining magnetotherapy’s effects specifically in horses are limited.

Study Objective

  • The research aimed to evaluate how low-frequency pulsed magnetic field therapy impacts horses exhibiting hypersensitivity to palpation along the longissimus dorsi muscle (a key back muscle).

Methods

  • Participants: Four recreational horses with back pain sensitivity were included in the pilot study.
  • Intervention: Each horse underwent a 10-session magnetotherapy program targeting the back muscles.
  • Assessments included:
    • Palpation sensitivity along the back to gauge pain response.
    • Neck flexibility tests to assess muscle tension and mobility.
    • Heart rate measurements to monitor systemic relaxation or stress responses.
    • Thermal imaging to observe surface temperature changes and confirm the treatment’s non-thermal effects.

Results

  • Palpation and Muscle Tension:
    • Reduction in pain sensitivity was observed in the withers, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral regions following treatment.
    • Muscle tension along the back muscles decreased, as indicated by improved palpation tolerance and neck flexibility.
  • Heart Rate:
    • Post-treatment heart rate decreased, suggesting a relaxing physiological effect of magnetotherapy on the horses.
  • Thermal Imaging:
    • No increase in surface temperature was detected, supporting that magnetotherapy acts through non-thermal mechanisms.
  • Safety:
    • No adverse effects, such as swelling or tissue irritation, were observed in any horse.

Conclusions and Implications

  • This pilot study provides preliminary evidence that low-frequency pulsed magnetotherapy may effectively reduce back pain sensitivity and muscle tension in horses without causing tissue heating.
  • The therapy also appears to promote relaxation, as reflected in lowered heart rates, adding to its potential benefit as a complementary modality for equine musculoskeletal care.
  • Due to the small sample size and lack of a control group, these findings are preliminary and require validation through:
    • Studies with larger populations of horses.
    • Controlled trials including negative control or sham-treatment groups for comparison.

Future Directions

  • Expansion of research to larger, randomized controlled trials to firmly establish efficacy and safety.
  • Exploration of optimal magnetotherapy parameters (frequency, duration, intensity) for managing equine back pain.
  • Investigation into the underlying biological mechanisms by which magnetic fields may alleviate musculoskeletal pain and promote relaxation in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Jastrzębska E, Dobbek D, Pawłowska A. (2025). The Effect of Magnetotherapy on Back Pain Sensitivity and Muscle Tension in Recreational Horses-A Pilot Study. Animals (Basel), 16(1), 77. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16010077

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 16
Issue: 1
PII: 77

Researcher Affiliations

Jastrzębska, Ewa
  • Department of Horse Breeding and Riding, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 5, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland.
Dobbek, Dominika
  • Department of Horse Breeding and Riding, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 5, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland.
Pawłowska, Aleksandra
  • Department of Horse Breeding and Riding, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 5, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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